"GET OSAMA!"

By

John Roberts)(2011)

(Being thoughts on the recent assassination of Osama Bin Laden)

These were ominous words and if,( as reported), were made by President Obama of the USA) conveyed to the world the fact that America has finally removed all pretence regarding its contempt for human rights and international obligations, in its dealings with those it identifies as the enemies of the United States.

The words, “Get Bin-Laden”, in themselves, do not, necessarily, convey a direct order to kill the person named but could, conceivably, convey an instruction to apprehend and abduct the victim. However, it has been reported that the Chief of the US Central Intelligence Agency, affirmed that the orders to the assassins were expressly that Osama Bin Laden was to be killed. Judging from reports and Television interviews with the U.S. President, the Secretary of State, Mrs Clinton and others, great satisfaction has been expressed, as to the outcome of the enterprise. Whilst the Death Penalty has not been, universally, abolished within the United States of America, one would expect that there would be a measure of support, within that Country, for Capital Punishment to be abolished. This is not the case with all nations, of course. In Australia we have determined, for a number of years, that the judicial killing of anyone, even the most vicious of felons, is not to be tolerated. In the present instance, the murder of this ardent and active foe of the USA has been applauded, as a most welcome and justified event. I find it unfortunate that none of the supporters of this assassination, in Australia, has seen fit to question its legality.

As a matter of International Law, one would be entitled to assume that, a person accused of serious crimes against humanity, must be brought before an appropriate tribunal for Trial. The destruction of the Twin-Towers buildings on ll September 2001, would warrant such proceedings. However, it is clear that the United States considers itself above all International Law, by virtue of its refusal to permit its Nationals to be subject to proceedings before the International Court of Justice.

It might, therefore, be distressing to the more sensitive members of Society, to have to witness on our TV screens the outrageous nature of this assault on a private compound in the Sovereign State of Pakistan. In the pursuit of their objective, U.S. troops used specialized helicopters, no doubt, guided by remote assistance from US technical experts within the Pentagon or other electronics control centre. This is all very remarkable and the level of technical achievement, as well as the efficient execution of the orders, has brought praise from all corners of the Western World. It is sad to note that little has been said within the ranks of those Nations, that support the United States, as to the evidence presented of the utter abrogation of all law and decency in the carrying-out of this crime. For in spite of the degree of loathing of Osama Bin Laden and his Muslim associates, entertained by those who have suffered in various attacks on US establishments, in recent years, that gentleman and those in his entourage, were entitled to be tried in an appropriate Forum, in respect of any alleged breaches of International Law. For Bin Laden to be gunned down in such a brazenly callous manner by US forces, expressly authorized by President Obama, demonstrates the extent to which the United States, in its supreme arrogance, is prepared to go, in defiance of International Law. The crime was further compounded when a wife of Osama was also killed, evidently for attempting to defend her husband. I understand, that a short time after the assault on Bin Laden’s hideout, a remotely guided weapon was launched against another military establishment, in Islamabad: killing fourteen people. “Lynch-Law” is, thus, still operative within and without the USA.

Following the assassination of Osama Bin Laden, his body was removed by the troops who committed the murder and dumped in the Indian Ocean, with, of course, “appropriate” Muslim ceremonies. Presumably, a Muslim Mullah was available to assist at the service. No doubt, this act was seen as necessary, to prevent the body of Bin Laden being later interred in an appropriate Mausoleum, as becoming a Muslim Martyr. This action, once again, might be seen by Pakistani Muslims as an affront to their religious practices. Certain photographs of the body of the victim were taken and some have been shown on Western TV media, although I have not personally seen anything that I would consider to be in poor taste. It would, of course, be a ghoulish act to publish explicit photographs of Bin Laden’s corpse.

For the USA to invade another country, using either troops or remote-controlled aerial weapons, in order to kill its citizens and destroy its property, is an affront to civilized people and brings shame on all the inhabitants of the USA. That such flagrant abuses have occurred before, on numerous occasions, reveals the extent of American contempt for and disregard of the rights of other peoples. One is left with the conviction that, in its continuous downhill trend towards the sink of human degradation, the USA has abandoned all the “Christian” principles of fair-dealing, which it has, in the past, professed. The United States now stands revealed for what it is : a large and powerful country, possessing an enormous facility for mischief-making and controlled by thugs, whose preoccupation is with a lust for power and control over other nations, to the complete disregard of the rights of all decent people to live in peace. America is rotten to the core and this decay has been ably demonstrated by Mr Obama in his recent cavortings relating to the murder of Osama Bin Laden.

No doubt, in common with many lay persons throughout the world, I know nothing regarding Osama Bin Laden’s life and conduct, apart from the propaganda issuing from US, British or Australian sources, as to his influence in the Sep 11th 2001 Massacre and his, alleged, promotion of violent activity against the United States. Judging merely from photographs in the media, he presented as a tall, good-looking man: intelligent and of mature age. There seems to be sufficient evidence to deduce that he represented a threat to the peace and stability of the USA: that he entertained violent and aggressive feelings towards America. Accepting that he was, perhaps, implicated in 9/11, it does not in any way mitigate the gravity of the offence of his arbitrary murder. I have in previous essays, expatiated on the numerous “crimes against humanity” perpetrated in the name of the United States of America against the peoples of the Third World Community, in the last sixty years. The litany of horrors thus committed would be quite sufficient to raise the ire of thinking people in these, often hard-pressed, communities. In making this statement I do not condone the violent practices of Muslim Fundamentalists, who send young people out to kill and be killed in suicidal attacks on their, perceived, enemies.

All these terrors inflicted upon the guilty or innocent of any nation reflect the wickedness and perverseness of those who profess to be members of a religious denomination and who, evidently, really believe themselves to be doing “God’s Work”: in training young men and women to be professional killers. Christian or Muslim, in doing so, they act contrary to the tenets of their particular faith. This is the essence of hypocrisy! We all subscribe, if only nominally, to the text: “Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord! I will repay!”

Since the 11 Sept 01, tragedy, the USA has been doggedly attempting to trace Bin Laden’s movements, with a view to “dealing with him”, in their own, inimitable, manner. That they have now, finally succeeded, is abundantly clear. Given that the spirit of vengeance is the prevailing influence in the search for the perpetrators of that holocaust, it becomes apparent that to some extent the Americans have succeeded, against all the odds. Comparing the damage inflicted and the appalling loss of life on 11 Sept 01, one must balance the extent of the slaughter and destruction occasioned by the United States in the course of its “Undeclared Wars” against Iraq and Afghanistan. In both instances there has been enormous loss of life and destruction of property, far exceeding that of 11 Sept. In fact, the killing continues in Afghanistan, against a large section of the population, termed “Insurgents!” and “terrorists”, who quite evidently object to the invasion of their Country by America and the murder of thousands of their countrymen; not to mention the enormous property damage committed, and still being committed, against that poverty-stricken nation. That the Americans have installed their own “Puppet Governments” in both Iraq and Afghanistan does not mean that they have any lawful validity or right to speak for the people of those Nations. Afghanistan is just another example of the way in which the USA destroys a country and butchers its citizenry then represents itself as the “Saviours” who have come to rid it of its internal foes.

That the killing of Osama Bin Laden has produced such satisfaction within America and its minions, around the world, demonstrates the utter destitution in Western Society of moral or spiritual principles. Religion in the West has lost its moral force and we have been left with an empty shell of Pantomime in the shape of meaningless rituals. Why are not the Churches crying-out en-masse about these horrors? It is not just this particular event but the ever-growing tendency for the USA and its allies to embark upon War for economic reasons, rather than to uphold justice and equity or even to right a grievous wrong. Libya is another case of “meddling” on the part of the West in an oil-rich district of North Africa.

If Bin Laden was such a “Monster” as he was made out to be and the “Master-Mind” of the 11th Sept 2001 horror, then the US President had a duty to ensure that he was brought to trial in the normal way. There is an “International Court of Justice” (although the USA won’t have a “Bar” of it) before which he could, conceivably, have been arraigned. But this exercise was all about: “Vengeance!” “An eye for an eye!”, etc. There is a blood-lust that will not be satiated until many more victims have been sacrificed. That is, partially, what Iraq and Afghanistan are all about. It is not only “Oil” or “Minerals”, but the gratification of the Blood-Lust, although physical control of resources, accounts for much of the destruction of property and mass-murder that has ensued. So much for ideas of “Western Decency” and respect for the “Rights of Mankind”.

The detention of innocent people and their torture in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba by the United States is a ten-year fiasco that would be a “scream”, if it were not such a grave and sustained injustice. I have also discussed that matter at length in previous papers. If there is sufficient hate then torture is OK!

The question of the possible involvement of the Government of Pakistan, in sheltering Bin Laden, has also been raised by an irritated US administration: as if it were not a natural thing for the Pakistanis to protect one of their own: whilst, at the same time, accepting material assistance in the shape of cash and weaponry, to strengthen their own military forces. This question goes without saying… That the USA has, in fact, known about the Osama hide-out and, probably, for some time, is evident and would have been determined by the numerous U.S. spies stationed in that country. For the Pakistanis, themselves, to have been ignorant of his presence in Islamabad, seems unlikely, even though the Pakistani Government expressed surprise at the fact.

As for the response of the Pakistanis to the invasion of their territorial integrity: it seems equally likely that they will swallow their national pride and continue to take hand-outs from the United States. So far as the people are concerned, I should imagine they will be very angry, at the insult offered to their national pride.

In conclusion, it seems probable that this murder will result,( and already has) in further attacks upon the supporters of American policies in the Middle and Far-Eastern areas. That the USA has an overwhelming capacity for offence, in its use of missile technology and GPS navigation systems, will not prevent suicide attacks from increasing, at least, temporarily. The people who will suffer for this wickedness, will be the Muslims themselves. America will need to strengthen its Border protection to ensure that no further major assaults are mounted on its populous cities. And so the vicious cycle of evil will continue into the distant future, accompanied by threats and recriminations, ad infinitum.

In the meantime the militarist and armament’s industries are on a roll: the money is diverted to the purchase of guns, not butter and the chaos continues until everyone is sick of the mayhem and bloodshed.

Another Bin Laden will come along to take up the challenge of the United States of America.

robertsjno@gmail.com